gh to read coming events in their true light. It is said of Spotted
Tail that he was rather a slow-moving boy, preferring in their various
games and mimic battles to play the role of councilor, to plan and
assign to the others their parts in the fray. This he did so cleverly
that he soon became a leader among his youthful contemporaries; and
withal he was apt at mimicry and impersonation, so that the other boys
were accustomed to say of him, "He has his grandfather's wit and the
wisdom of his grandmother!"

Spotted Tail was an orphan, reared by his grandparents, and at an
early age compelled to shift for himself. Thus he was somewhat at a
disadvantage among the other boys; yet even this fact may have helped
to develop in him courage and ingenuity. One little incident of his boy
life, occurring at about his tenth year, is characteristic of the man.
In the midst of a game, two boys became involved in a dispute which
promised to be a serious one, as both drew knives. The young Spotted
Tail instantly began to cry, "The Shoshones are upon us! To arms! to
arms!" and the other boys joined in the war whoop. This distracted the
attention of the combatants and ended the affair.

Upon the whole, his boyhood is not so well remembered as is that of most
of his leading contemporaries, probably because he had no parents to
bring him frequently before the people, as was the custom with the
wellborn, whose every step in their progress toward manhood was publicly
announced at a feast given in their honor. It is known, however, that
he began at an early age to carve out a position for himself. It is
personal qualities alone that tell among our people, and the youthful
Spotted Tail gained at every turn. At the age of seventeen, he had
become a sure shot and a clever hunter; but, above all, he had already
shown that he possessed a superior mind. He had come into contact with
white people at the various trading posts, and according to his own
story had made a careful study of the white man's habits and modes of
thought, especially of his peculiar trait of economy and intense desire
to accumulate property. He was accustomed to watch closely and listen
attentively whenever any of this strange race had dealings with his
people. When a council was held, and the other young men stood at a
distance with their robes over their faces so as to avoid recognition,
Spotted Tail always put himself in a position to hear all that was said
on either side,